Human Rights Day 2011

This year thousands of people decided the time had come to claim their rights. They took to the streets and demanded change. Many found their voices using the internet and instant messaging to inform, inspire and mobilize supporters to seek their basic human rights.

Social media helped activists organize peaceful protest movements in cities across the globe—in Tunis, in Cairo, in Madrid, in New York, and in cities and towns across the globe—at times in the face of violent repression.

It has been a year like no other for human rights. Human rights activism has never been more topical or more vital. And through the transforming power of social media, ordinary people have become human rights activists.

Human rights belong equally to each of us and bind us together as a global community with the same ideals and values. As a global community we all share a day in common: Human Rights Day on 10 December, when we remember the creation 63 years ago of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

On Human Rights Day 2011 we pay tribute to all human rights defenders and ask you to get involved in the global human rights movement.

The High Commissioner for Human Rights will host a global conversation on human rights through social media on Friday, 9 December at 9:30 A.M., New York time.

We want you to be part of it: join the conversation, send a question, watch it live. More details coming soon.

Join us on Facebook as we countdown to Human Rights Day with a "30 days and 30 rights" discussion on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights or follow us on Twitter #CelebrateRights.

Help us celebrate human rights!

Events - New York and GenevaEvents in Geneva and New York on 9 December will celebrate the work of human rights defenders and examine the role of social media as a crucial element in modern political and societal shifts.

Statements and messagesStatements by the Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay.

Visual designsPromoting Human Rights Day is easy with our collection of visual designs in all six official UN languages. Choose from an assortment of downloadable shapes and sizes in bold bright colours or black and white.

Promotional materialsWe offer a range of downloadable promotional materials including posters and badges.

VideosThe videos found here are available for use on Human Rights Day.

StoriesThe work of human rights activists are often featured on our website. We have searched our archives and many of their stories can be found here.